Londoners get ready for feast-ivites as Urban Food Fortnight Commences

The two-week food extravaganza, which starts on Friday 11 September, is run by London Food Link and highlights the hidden delights of the capital’s food scene and gives Londoners the chance to eat ultra-local food, while celebrating the people producing it.

The fortnight is a celebration of the best of London’s local larder from alfresco supper clubs in the city’s edible gardens, to tasting events featuring the Kappacasein cheese made in the heart of Bermondsey and Hackney-grown salad.  Restaurants including big names and local favourites will be flying the flag for ultra-local produce, with specials featured at Foxlow, Hawksmoor, Mews of Mayfair, OXO Tower and The Imperial to name a few.  

Green-fingered Londoners can visit one of more than 50 gardens taking part in Capital Growth’s Sixth Edible Gardens Open Day on 19 September. Many of them will be celebrating their harvest with tasty activities, while some can be found in unusual places such as the floating allotment in Hackney.  

The event, now in its fourth year, is part of the Urban Food Routes project supported by the Mayor of London, Boris Johnson. The project also features the Urban Food Awards at the world famous Borough Market on 24 September and includes categories for  ‘London’s Best Loaf’ and ‘The Big Smoke’s Big Cheese’ as well as a nod to the capital’s local food heroes. 

Rosie Boycott, the Chair of the London Food Board, said: “Urban Food Fortnight has become a real focus of the year in London’s food calendar. It’s a real celebration of all the wonderful food and drink being produced in the capital and an opportunity for London’s chefs, growers and producers to showcase their fare and display why the city’s food scene is one of the best in the world.”

Clare Gilbert, of London Food Link says: “It’s fantastic to see so many real London chefs, growers and producers get involved. They work so hard all year round and it’s great to showcase what they contribute to ‘London’s larder’ with people that appreciate good food”

Visit the Urban Food Fortnight website to tempt your taste buds or head straight to our online map.  And to win tickets to the Urban Food Awards or a meal worth £150 at Hawksmoor, sign up to London Food Link during September or look out for us on Twitter. 

For more information please contact Clare Gilbert on 0203 5596 777 or clare.gilbert@sustainweb.org @londonfoodlink #UFF2015.

Notes to editors:

1. Urban Food Fortnight is organised by London Food Link - an independent network of people, businesses and organisations that promote and campaign for good food in the city. The event has run annually since 2012 and this year is funded through Urban Food Routes and supported by The Mayor of London. View our video online www.urbanfoodfortnight.org  @londonfoodlink #uff15
2. Urban Food Routes is a unique initiative funded by the Mayor of London and Seeds of Change® helping a variety of London’s small food enterprises gain from expert business advice and funding which will also benefit their local communities. The support is co-ordinated by the Plunkett Foundation with help from London Food Link. www.urbanfoodroutes.org.uk 
3. Capital Growth is a London Food Link project, set up in 2008 to provide help to Londoners wanting to set up food growing spaces. Capital Growth provides its 2,000+ members with training and advice and has been supporting growing spaces that want to sell some of their London grown produce. www.capitalgrowth.org @capital_growth
4. Edible Gardens Open’s Day takes place on Saturday 19 September with over 50 gardens expected to take part and open their gates to visitors across London https://www.capitalgrowth.org/events/opengardens/ 
5. The Urban Food Awards are the annual celebration of the best of London’s local larder. They recognise fantastic food and drink grown and made across the capital’s boroughs, and the small, community-focused producers behind them, run by London Food Link and The Mayor of London’s Food Team. https://www.sustainweb.org/londonfoodlink/awards/ 

Featured events:

Skip Garden Supper Club 
Dine in the recently built garden featuring structures such as The Glasshouse Lantern, Wetland Dining and Polytunnel which are functional, sustainable and uniquely beautiful. Guests will enjoy a seasonal, freshly prepared menu made with some of the produce grown on site. From seed to plate, you'll enjoy a tasty seasonal menu prepared by the Skip Kitchen cooks.

Dinner from Our Back Garden
Team London Bridge, St. Mungo's Broadway Putting Down Roots, The Table Cafe and Capital Growth are coming together for our annual al fresco refection celebrating super urban food growing delivered through an amazing partnership. The evening will feature produce grown in the Melior Street allotment, cooked and served on site. Tickets cost £12.50 (includes two courses plus an arrival beverage). All proceeds go to St. Mungo's Broadway Putting Down Roots.

Foxlow Bermondsey Frier Sandwich
Foxlow Stoke Newington and Clerkenwell will be serving a Bermondsey Frier Sandwich using cheese from Kappacasein Dairy in Bermondsey, London bread and a seasonal slaw made using veg sourced within the M25. Kappacasein Dairy have been producing cheese in Bermondsey using milk from Commonwork Organic Farm in Kent since 2008. 

OXO Tower Bar & Brasserie
The OXO Tower Bar & Brasserie will be using vegetables from Sutton Community Farm in some of their most popular plates. 

The Imperial 
The Imperial will run daily Urban Food Fortnight specials throughout the fortnight, accompanied with a Sipsmith Cocktail, or soft drinks from Dalston Cola Company. They are also hosting a ‘London Cru Wine dinner’, a 4 course meal using London produce and matched with wine from the London Cru winery in SW6 on the 23 September. Booking essential for the dinner.

Pop Up Pickle
Bring along your harvest to The Table Café where head chef, Shaun Alpine Crabtree, will teach you how to pickle your veg, and enterprising grower, Rosemary Jeboo, will let you in on how she makes her famous jam. The session will also include a discussion on the dos and don'ts of health and safety in the kitchen when preparing preserves for sale. Everyone goes home with a recipe sheet and a pick of the pickles.

Hackney Herbal – Bake & Blend Session 
Moving micro bakery, The Bread Companion, has joined forces with the herb specialists, Hackney Herbal, to run a bake and blend workshop on Sunday 13 September. In this five hour workshop, you will learn how to make your own bread and blend your own herbal tea. Suitable for all levels, you will take home everything you make in the session, plus there will be a late Smorgasbord style lunch provided. 

Pearly Queen Bee Experience
As part of the two hour experience, London honey producers Pearly Queen will teach you about bee society, how they work and the problems they are facing as well as a hands on taster of being a beekeeper and seeing everything for yourself. 11am to 1pm and costs £20.

Edible Gardens Open Day @ the Castle Garden
The Castle Garden is holding an open day as part of Capital Growth’s 6th annual Edible Gardens Open Day, when the Capital’s Edible Gardens throw open their doors to welcome in the public. Food will be served in the garden including pizzas made in their very own cob oven.